Dr. Stuart Fischbein

High risk pregnancy has no official medical definition and is often what makes your obstetrician uncomfortable rather than actual statistical risk

Dr. Stuart Fischbein explains that the American College of OB GYN considers pregnancy itself a high risk condition, and no single woman makes it through pregnancy without at least one problem on their medical list.

VBAC actual risk is one in twelve hundred for serious complications, not the inflated numbers doctors quote

Dr. Fischbein calculates that scar separation occurs in 1 in 200-333 cases, and only 5-16% of those result in bad outcomes, making the real risk 1 in 1200 - the same as Down syndrome risk at age 25.

Being over 35 or having twins doesn't make you high risk until something actually develops that becomes high risk

Dr. Fischbein explains that labeling women high risk at their first visit based on age or twin pregnancy creates fear and stress hormones that actually harm the developing baby.

Continuous fetal monitoring increases cesarean rates by 600% without preventing cerebral palsy

Dr. Fischbein states that after 50 years of continuous fetal monitoring, there is evidence of non-benefit and no prevention of cerebral palsy, yet it remains mandatory in hospitals.

Standard of care varies by location and doesn't necessarily mean best care

Dr. Fischbein shares how he was considered below standard of care for doing laparoscopic surgery in one community while it was cutting-edge at Cedars Sinai, showing standard of care is just what the average person in that community does.

Midwifery care with 30-60 minute visits creates healthier outcomes than 6-8 minute doctor visits

Dr. Fischbein explains that similar cohorts of women receiving midwifery care have less gestational diabetes and hypertension than those with brief obstetrician visits due to the preventative relationship-based model.

Stress hormones from high risk labeling cross the placenta and affect baby's development

Dr. Fischbein describes how women labeled high risk spend 40 weeks in terror, bathing their babies in cortisol and adrenaline instead of dopamine and oxytocin needed for healthy development.

Induction at 39 weeks carries more risk than waiting until 41+ weeks naturally

Dr. Fischbein states that doctors will tell you induction at 39 weeks is safer than waiting until 41 weeks, but this is not supported by evidence and creates unnecessary intervention cascades.

Pregnancy is labeled as problem number one on every obstetrician's problem list

Dr. Fischbein reveals that the American College of OB GYN considers pregnancy itself a high risk condition, making it the first problem on every pregnant woman's medical chart.

Home birth studies show better outcomes in similar cohorts than hospital births

Dr. Fischbein mentions his published study on 100 sets of twins born at home and references multiple studies showing better outcomes for home birth in appropriate candidates.

Delayed cord clamping and skin-to-skin are natural mammalian processes hospitals interrupt

Dr. Fischbein explains that no other mammal has their cord cut immediately or baby taken away, and when gorillas have c-sections they don't bond because they didn't go through the natural process.